As Time Goes On
Chapter 1: Arrival
"Must be a couple of grandsons."
"Poor kids."
"I haven't seen them around before. They must be from out of town."
The hospice nurses were huddled together whispering amongst themselves, but the two young men about whom there were speaking heard every word. Just like the last time.
Yukine heard this every time he entered the building and it had almost stopped annoying him at this point. He walked briskly down the sterile hallways which smelled strongly of rubbing alcohol and flowers. The blond youth wore his short-sleeved denim outfit, the same as always, but on this particular day he felt cold. It was warm for autumn, but Yukine couldn't shake his chill.
He looked up to the god he served and his best friend, Yato. "You can tell, can't you? When she's going to go."
"Yeah." Yato did not look back to his exemplar as they entered the center stairwell. They never took the elevator. It left too much open silence. Their steps on the stairs echoed in a haunting but reassuring way. Yato pulled at his tight collar, wishing he had opted for a track suit, but that would not be appropriate for this type of visit.
Yato had raided Kazuma's closet again, much to the regalia's chagrin, but he did not protest it on this day. For this was a day few gods would remember with any significance, and would go unnoticed by history. To Yato, it was a day that he would always remember.
When a human dies, their spirit moves on and leaves the material world.
When a god dies, they are reincarnated into another version of themselves. No memories remain, but the essence is the same. This happens for gods who are believed in and prayed to. For popular gods, this poses little threat to their continued existence. For a small-timer like Yato, it was a risky gamble. Yato had no major shrines, no lines of people waiting to make wishes to him on festival days, just one family. One family continued to believe in the Yato god.
And the matriarch of this family was dying.
The footfalls quieted as Yato and Yukine stopped just outside of the door. The small plaque read Yuuki Hiyori.
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Christmas 2021
"Hiyori, why did you set five plates? There are only ever three of us."
Iki Hiyori paused, a nervous smile on her face, as her mother looked on quizzically. "Oh, I read in an old book in the library that it's supposed to be good luck to set extra places at holidays. You know, like, umm, welcoming in happiness and good fortune." The words tumbled out of her mouth. "I do it all the time at the apartment, so I guess I just forgot that it's not something we do at the house. Hahaha." She laughed nervously. "I'll just put the extras away, its fine, I'll grab it."
Her mother started to giggle. "No it's fine. Leave them." Her eyes crinkled with amusement as she gazed lovingly at her only child. "I think it's wonderful, Hiyori."
After the meal was over, the conversation was had, and Mr. and Mrs. Iki had gone to bed, there was a quiet knock at the door. Hiyori tip-toed over and looked through the peep hole. Two bright faces beamed at her. She excitedly pulled open the door and hugged her guests. Yato and Yukine looked the same as ever, aside from the wintery apparel.
"I'm sorry I asked you to show up so late this year." Hiyori apologized.
Yato laughed. "I don't mind. At least I don't have to hear your father's get-to-know-you speech for the fourth year in a row."
Yukine smiled too. "Yeah, that's the downside to humans not remembering us. Constant introductions. This is much better. Your hair looks great, by the way."
Hiyori grinned and touched the shoulder-length hair. "You think?" She led them into the kitchen where the two extra places were set. "Dinner's all ready. I just have to reheat it."
While the god and his regalia ate, Hiyori filled them in on the last few months of life at university. She was about to finish her degree and had an apartment out in Kobe. Taking the train every day wasn't her favorite activity, but it was the best use of money and gave her time to catch up with friends who lived in the area. She blushed as she mentioned one name.
Yato got an evil grin on his face as he swallowed his last bite of food. "So, who's this Kyouji guy? Yuuki Kyouji… Hmmm?"
Yukine looked up from his plate, surprised. "Huh?"
"Don't talk with your mouth full. So, who is he? A boyfriend?" Yato made an overly-dramatic kissing sound. "Hiyori and Kyouji sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-"
Hiyori slammed her hands on the table, face red, muscles tight.
Yato and Yukine stopped what they were doing and sat back in their chairs, eyes wide.
Yukine finished chewing the last of his food slowly and quietly, gulping it down without a sound. All three looked around at each other for a few long moments.
Yato spoke first. "Hey, Hiyori. I'm sorry. I didn-"
"We went on two dates. It doesn't mean anything." Hiyori's words were short and tight. She relaxed her shoulders and gave a tired smile. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be short with you of all people. I almost never see the two of you anymore. It's just that my parents are on me about getting a boyfriend. They think I'm too flighty. They think that having a family and settling down will be good for me."
Yato blinked and blinked again. "No way, you're too young for that." He paused, wrinkling his eyebrows. "Wait, how old are you now?"
"Twenty-two."
Yukine was the one to break the silence. "Well, what do your parents know? It's your life and besides, twenty-two is still young. You've got so much you want to do. You've been telling us for seven years about all the great things you're going to achieve."
"I know that, it's just… People in my family get married young. Pretty much all of my cousins are already married with kids. I do kind of like this guy, but I don't want to do something just because of my parents, but I don't want to not go for it just to spite them. I don't want to keep acting like a teenager." Hiyori dropped her head into her hands. "Today was supposed to be fun for us. I'm just ruining it."
Strong hands lifted her face. Hiyori looked into blue eyes set with determination. Black wisps of hair moved as Yato spoke. "Hiyori. Do you like this guy?"
Hiyori nodded.
"Do you think he likes you?"
She nodded again.
"Do you give a damn what your parents think?"
She hesitated, so he shook it for her.
"Good, so go call him right now. Yukine and I will wait." He let go of her face and Hiyori couldn't help but let a smile break out across it.
"Okay, yeah. I will." She flitted up the stairs to her old room, phone in hand.
"What was that for?" Yukine hissed. "I thought we were talking her out of her parents' plan."
"That's what I was doing. Regardless of her parents, Hiyori is into this Kyouji guy. It's our job to bring happiness, remember?" Yato sighed. "And if Kyouji will bring our Hiyori happiness, even for a few months, we owe it to her to let her take that chance. And if it doesn't work out, we cheer her up. She's our girl and it's what we do. And you know she'd do the same for us."
Hiyori descended the stairs, a small, warm smile on her face. "I asked Kyouji to a party that's going on next week at Ana's apartment. It's just a small get together." Her gaze shifted to an ice glare which met Yato sidelong. "That doesn't mean anything weird. It's just a party."
Yato put up his hands in surrender, a joking grin on his face. "I didn't say a word."
After a moment, he got out of his chair and pulled Hiyori into a long hug. "Merry Christmas, Hiyori" he whispered into her hair. Yato's eyes closed and he felt her arms hugging back.
"Merry Christmas, Yato."